Opposition politicians throng Gulu as Bobi Wine, 33 others seek bail

A number of opposition politicians have graced the High Court in Gulu to attend the hearing of the bail application for the 34 people arrested over the Arua Municipality by-election chaos.

They are led by Dr.Kizza Besigye, Leader of Opposition, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, Betty Aol Ochan, Allan Ssewanyana, Joseph Ssewungu, former Deputy Lord Mayor, Suleiman Kidandala, Barnabas Tinkasimire and Latif Ssebaggala thronged the Gulu High Court to take part in the proceedings.

A group of 34 people including legislators, Kassiano Wadri, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, Gerald Karuhanga and Paul Mwiru were recently charged with treason for throwing stones at President Museveni’s convoy shattering the windscreen of one of the vehicles before being remanded to Gulu government prison.

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Meanwhile, the group through their lawyers led by Medard Sseggona, Caleb Alaka, Asuman Basaalirwa, and Nicholas Opiyo applied to be released on bail.

Lawyers representing the group have started presenting sureties as part of their arguments for the bail application.

In their application, the suspects’ lawyers have also argued that the group have their constitutional right to apply for bail, their deteriorating health situation after the alleged torture by security agencies and presumption of innocence among their grounds for applying for bail.

The state is expected to respond to the arguments by the accused’s lawyers before Justice Stephen Mubiru gives his ruling on the bail application.

Following the chaos in Arua on the eve of the municipality by-elections in which one person was shot dead and Museveni’s convoy was pelted with stones, a number of people were arrested before being charged with treason in the Gulu Chief Magistrates Court.